Ideology, organisation, alliance: Agenda for BJP meet

The BJP top brass would hold a ‘‘chintan shivir’’ (brain-storming camp) in June to have a fresh look at the party’s...

The BJP top brass would hold a ‘‘chintan shivir’’ (brain-storming camp) in June to have a fresh look at the party’s ideological stance, draw its strategy for the 2004 Lok Sabha elections and formulate long-term measures to tone up the organisation. A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of BJP general secretaries at the residence of party president M. Venkaiah Naidu today.

The two-and-a-half-hour meeting, chaired by Naidu, was attended by party general secretaries Pramod Mahajan, Sanjay Joshi, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Anita Arya.

Law Minister Arun Jaitley and Disinvestment Minister Arun Shourie were also present.

Story continues below this ad

It is not clear if RSS functionaries would join BJP leaders at the proposed session, but the move is rooted in the recent BJP initiative to warm up to the RSS.

Sangh general secretary Mohan Rao Bhagwat recently addressed a shakha of 100 BJP MPs, including Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee and his deputy, L.K. Advani, at the residence of former minister V.P. Goel.

On its part, the Sangh has reciprocated by advising all Parivar outfits, including the VHP, to close their ranks and ‘‘project a unity of purpose’’.

Vajpayee, Advani, Naidu and some 50-60 leaders would participate in the deliberations lasting two to three days. At the ideological plane, the key issue is Hindutva. The poll strategy revolves around alliances with other parties. The party is faced with the difficult task of synthesising its renewed focus on Hindutva with the reservations of its allies on this count.

Story continues below this ad

Though the venue has not been finalised yet, it is likely to be the Rambhau Mahalgi Institute in Mumbai. Alternatively, the party may opt for Delhi.

The issue of state elections too came up at today’s meeting. A suggestion was floated to assign Madhya Pradesh to Jaitley and Sanjay Joshi and Rajasthan to Health Minister Sushma Swaraj and Mahajan.

Rajnath Singh may be placed in charge of Chhattisgarh while Urban Development Minister Ananth Kumar and Naqvi may be allotted Delhi.

The meeting also resolved to take a comprehensive view of indiscipline and take strong measures to check it.

Story continues below this ad

The leadership would look into the affairs of all problem-states — Himachal, UP, West Bengal, Orissa, Karnataka and Chhattisgarh.

The meeting, however, did not discuss the case of Union Rural Development Minister Shanta Kumar, who has been served a showcause notice by Naidu for his public statements after the party’s rout in Himachal Pradesh.

In a resolution adopted at the meeting, the BJP threatened Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Digvijay Singh with an agitation over the ‘‘voters list scam’’ and his ‘‘brazen attempt to protect the guilty officers’’. The BJP also alleged that the Singh had ‘‘resorted to what the Communists in West Bengal have perfected as scientific rigging.’’